Current
SBME Opportunities

STAFF

No current openings.

FACULTY

Internal Posting: Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Immuno-Bioengineering | School of Biomedical Engineering (see full posting below)

Trainees

UBC Senior Teaching Assistant

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS

Postdoctoral Fellow – Shakiba/de Boer Labs

Internal Faculty Search

Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Immuno-Bioengineering | School of Biomedical Engineering

Date Posted: December 13, 2024

This is an internal search and applicants must hold a full-time, tenure-track or tenured appointment at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor in the School of Biomedical Engineering at UBC.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

The School of Biomedical Engineering at The University of British Columbia (UBC) invites applications for a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Immuno- Bioengineering. This is an internal search and applicants must hold a full-time, tenure-track or tenured appointment at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor in the School of Biomedical Engineering at UBC.

Tier 2 Chairs are five-year positions, renewable once, intended for exceptional emerging scholars who have the potential to lead in their fields. They are expected to (a) be excellent emerging world-class researchers who have demonstrated particular research creativity, (b) have the potential to achieve international recognition in their fields in the next five to ten years and (c) have the potential to attract, develop and retain excellent trainees, students and future researchers. Normally, applicants for Tier 2 Chairs should be no more than 10 years from having earned their highest degree at the time of Chair nomination. Applicants who are more than 10 years from having earned their highest degree (and where career breaks exist, such as maternity, parental or extended sick leave, clinical training, etc.) may have their eligibility for a Tier 2 Chair assessed through the program’s Tier 2 justification process https://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/program-programme/nomination-mise_en_candidature-eng.aspx. All CRC nominations are subject to review and final approval by the CRC Secretariat, and appointment as a CRC is conditional upon their approval. Please consult the Canada Research Chairs website www.chairs.gc.ca for full program information, including further details on eligibility.

In accordance with UBC’s CRC Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Action Plan https://research.ubc.ca/federal-research-chair-programs/canada-research-chairs/ubcs-commitment-equity-diversity-and and pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights code, the selection will be restricted to members of the following designated groups: people with disabilities, Indigenous people, racialized people, women, and people from minoritized gender identity groups. Applicants to CRC positions are asked to complete this equity survey https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6WJHol7SfPxRMu9 as part of the application, and candidates from these groups must self-identify as belonging to one or more of the designated equity groups to be considered for the position. Because the search is limited to those self-identifying as members of designated equity groups, candidates must also provide their name to be considered.

Personal information is collected under the authority of sections 26(a), 26(c) and 26(e) of the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The information you provide will be used to determine whether you qualify for participation in this restricted process, and to advance accessibility, equity, and fair adjudication in this process. Data will be collected by the Equity & Inclusion Office and only the names of those eligible for the search process will be shared confidentially with the search committee, except those self-identifying with a disability whose names will be shared separately and confidentially to follow preferential hiring strategy. All responses will be stored in a secure database.

The School of Biomedical Engineering is a partnership between the Faculties of Medicine and Applied Science, acting as a nucleus for education and training, research, and innovation in biomedical engineering, creating new knowledge, new academic and training programs, and fostering translation and innovation. The vision of SBME is to transform health care outcomes through unconstrained exploration of the best possible integrative solutions across engineering, medicine, and biology. Through collaborative, innovative, and interdisciplinary approaches and building on UBC academic and research excellence, the School of Biomedical Engineering is emerging as a global leader in biomedical engineering research, education and translation. For more information about the School of Biomedical Engineering, please visit https://www.bme.ubc.ca/.

Reporting to the Director of the UBC School of Biomedical Engineering, the successful candidate will lead an independent research program with potential to achieve international recognition in Immuno-Bioengineering. A focus on the development of novel bioengineering approaches and technologies to leverage protein and cellular engineering and biomaterials to develop therapies for cancer, infectious disease and neurodegenerative disorders is particularly relevant. As the Chairholder, the individual will be expected to:

• Establish a leading research program in protein and cellular immunoengineering, focusing on innovative immune cell and protein-based therapies, and publish in high-impact journals.
• Foster interdisciplinary collaborations within UBC and with industry to advance immunoengineering technologies and translate discoveries into clinical applications.
• Secure competitive research grants, generate high impact publications and potentially develop patentable technologies that may lead to commercialization, including new immunotherapies.
• Develop and deliver specialized courses in immunoengineering or related areas, while mentoring graduate students and trainees in cutting-edge techniques.
• Promote equity, diversity, and inclusion within research and teaching, and engage in community outreach to raise awareness of immunotherapy advances.
• Sustain and grow their research portfolio within the School and Faculties of Medicine and Applied Science priorities.

The successful candidate will continue to participate in the teaching activities of the School, as well as provide mentorship and training to undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate learners. The incumbent will also continue to provide service to the University and the broader academic and professional community. They will work collaboratively in diverse groups to bring forward strategic initiatives for the School and the Faculty. The successful candidate will contribute to fostering an environment that promotes inclusivity and embodies values of respect, integrity, compassion, collaboration, and equity. Equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice are essential to academic excellence, as well as to fostering an inclusive community for voices that have been historically underrepresented or discouraged.

The successful candidate will hold a Ph.D. or equivalent, and have a strong educational training in immuno- engineering, bioengineering, biomedical engineering, and/or related fields. Proposal of an original, innovative research program of high quality, a collaborative team-based approach to building a successful research program, and having potential to attract, develop and retain excellent trainees, students and future researchers are important characteristics of desirable candidates. In addition, the successful candidate will demonstrate a willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own, and a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Consideration will be given to candidates who hold a P.Eng. licence or who are eligible to obtain a P.Eng. license and consequently register for one with Engineers and Geoscientists BC. Individuals with quantitative science backgrounds such as Math, Computer Science, or Physics are also encouraged to apply if they are eligible for a Limited Licence with Engineers and Geoscientists BC (see https://www.egbc.ca/Registration/Individual-Registrants/How-to-Apply/Professional-Registration/Professional-Licensee for details on the limited licence.)

An application package should include:

1. A cover letter (1 page)

2. The main application, consisting of the following sections:

a. Most significant contributions statement (1 page)

b. Research program proposal (5 pages, excluding references)

c. Teaching and mentorship statement (1 page)

d. Equity, diversity, and inclusion statement of the applicant’s current or planned contributions to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in academic, professional, or community contexts (1 page)

3. A full curriculum vitae (no page limit)

4. The names of three references who meet the CRCP’s conflict of interest requirements as per https://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/program-programme/referees-repondants-eng.aspx.

Applications should be submitted to SBME Human Resources at hr@sbme.ubc.ca. As indicated above, applicants must also complete this equity survey https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6WJHol7SfPxRMu9 as part of the application. Should you have any queries around this position, please contact Human Resources Manager at hr@sbme.ubc.ca.

The application deadline for this opportunity is January 17, 2025. The successful applicant will be required to prepare a CRC package by the February 2025 UBC internal deadline for the April 2025 CRC deadline. The earliest anticipated start date for this position is October 2025 or upon a later date to be mutually agreed.

In assessing applications, UBC recognizes the legitimate impact that leaves (e.g., maternity leave, parental leave, leaves due to illness, leaves due to caring for family members, or slowdowns due to chronic illness or disability) can have on a candidate’s record of research achievement. These leaves will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process.

The University is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and equitable work environment for all members of its workforce. An inclusive work environment presumes an environment where differences are appreciated, recognized, and integrated into current structures, planning, and decision-making modes. Within this hiring process we are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable process for all candidates (including but not limited to people with disabilities). Confidential accommodations are available on request. Please contact Suni Hwang via email at suni.hwang@ubc.ca. If you have any questions regarding accommodations or accessibility during the recruitment and hiring process or for more information and support, please visit UBC’s Centre for Workplace Accessibility website https://hr.ubc.ca/health-and-wellbeing/workplace-accessibility/centre-workplace-accessibility at or contact the Centre at workplace.accessibility@ubc.ca.

To learn more about how the University is working to create a more inclusive working and learning environment, please see the UBC Inclusion Action Plan’s goals related to recruitment and retention.

With gratitude, we acknowledge that the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine and its distributed programs, which include four university academic campuses, are located on traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of First Nations Peoples and communities around the province.

Our Vision: To Transform Health for Everyone.

Ranked among the world’s top medical schools with the fifth-largest MD enrollment in North America, the UBC Faculty of Medicine is a leader in both the science and the practice of medicine. Across British Columbia, more than 12,000 faculty and staff are training the next generation of doctors and health care professionals, making remarkable discoveries, and helping to create the pathways to better health for our communities at home and around the world.

The Faculty – comprised of approximately 2,200 administrative support, technical/research and management and professional staff, as well approximately 650 full-time academic and over 10,000 clinical faculty members – is composed of 19 academic basic science and/or clinical departments, three schools, and 24 research centres and institutes. Together with its University and Health Authority partners, the Faculty delivers innovative programs and conducts research in the areas of health and life sciences. Faculty, staff and trainees are located at university campuses, clinical academic campuses in hospital settings and other regionally based centres across the province.

The Faculty of Applied Science includes all UBC Engineering activities at both the UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan, as well as the Schools of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Community and Regional Planning and Nursing. The Faculty was one of UBC’s three founding faculties, admitting some of the University’s first students in engineering in 1915. The Faculty includes over 300 full-time faculty members and more than 8,600 students.

The Faculty of Applied Science comprises a unique constellation of disciplines and is committed to creating lasting change by discovering and applying knowledge. Our core purpose is to discover, design, and innovate, provide unwavering top-tier education, and champion a community of responsible professionals devoted to serving a thriving, sustainable and healthy society. Our work and the professional disciplines we represent span the entire human- centred built environment. We represent innovation at all scales from nanoscale electronic devices that power communications to the design of entire cities.

UBC – One of the World’s Leading Universities. As one of the world’s leading universities, the University of British Columbia creates an exceptional learning environment that fosters global citizenship, advances a civil and sustainable society, and supports outstanding research to serve the people of British Columbia, Canada and the world.

UBC hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply. Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

Become an Associate Member

Associate Membership in the School of Biomedical Engineering is an unofficial position given to a faculty member outside of the school when there is a need to have a formal arrangement to participate in teaching, research and service. This is not a joint appointment. To request membership please see here for more instructions: Associate Membership Application. Each application will be reviewed by the School’s leadership team.

Notes on applying for Associate Membership

The term for Associate membership is a maximum of 3 years. For renewal, a new application package must be submitted. It is expected that each member participate in at least one teaching and/or service activity (i.e. serve on a SBME committee, other than graduate supervisory committees). This activity must be clearly outlined in the letter of intent.

Teaching and Committees

Teaching activities fall under our undergraduate and graduate curriculum umbrellas. Note that our students do take courses in other departments. SBME-specific courses are coded as BMEG courses.

Our list of committees continues to expand as the school itself expands. Below is a list SBME committees:

• Undergrad Curriculum Committee
• Undergrad Admissions Committee
• Graduate Program Scholarship/Awards Committee
• Graduate Program Policy Committee
• MEng Admissions Committee
• PhD Rotation Committee
• Research Awards Committee
• Research Advisory Committee
• Faculty Mentorship Committee
• Indigenous Engagement Committee
• REDI Committee